Best starter Cobra

[Darius Basson]

Hi

Can anybody tell me, what is the most docile starter cobra?

I have done venomous snake courses that includes handling and venomous snake bite & treatment (FGASA venomous snake course at African reptiles&Venom), and I had aggressive snakes before and I have good Cobra and Adder handling experience.

Will appreciate any help.

Kind regards
Darius

[Darius Basson]

Or should I rather go for the adders?

Kind regards
Darius

[Lachesis]

I take it you want to keep Cobras from Africa rather than Asiatic Naja sp?

[Reynard]

False water cobra

[it_bit_me]

When it comes to docile cobras you will have to look for an docile individual, not species. Stay away from spitters ,they are not fun to keep or clean up after.

[poobsta]

I

Hi

Can anybody tell me, what is the most docile starter cobra?

I have done venomous snake courses that includes handling and venomous snake bite & treatment (FGASA venomous snake course at African reptiles&Venom), and I had aggressive snakes before and I have good Cobra and Adder handling experience.

If you have handled cobras you should know which species are abit more aggro

[vuduman]

I would recommend a baby cobra-if you are going to go that route...My first cobra was a baby snouted cobra.Its best to learn how to work with them from when they are small.Eventually the ballgame will be completely different when you have to tail them as they get bigger and they see everything as food.Best to go for a local cobra too.

[Jamster]

get a rinkhals imo. I find bigger cobras at around 1.5m easiest to handle, small cobras can be wriggly and unpredictable.

[Lachesis]

Naja annulifera

I've got a few friends with these, and they are quite calm. To the extent they don't even hood anymore...

But to be honest, i don't think it's a good idea to get anything docile. Make sure your handling skills are up to scratch, and get something you want, not because it's less docile. If you are worrying about how docile the cobra will be, you're not ready to have one.

Just don't start with a Forest Cobra!

[Viper Wade]

When it comes to docile cobras you will have to look for an docile individual, not species. Stay away from spitters ,they are not fun to keep or clean up after.

Agreed.

[Darius Basson]

Thanks guys!

[marc bt]

There's a thread on the forum that discusses this exact topic at length.

[Jamster]

Lachesis.. Im sorry but your friends Naja annulifera are an exeption. Snouties are not by any means a good starter cobra as they get big and can be a handfull. If i had the choice of handling a cobra that hoods or a cobra that doesnt hood, I would choose the one that hoods every single time. Easier to predict what they are going to do, also their maneuverability is lower when thay are hooded.

Forest cobra...are. you. mad! Forest cobras are some of the largest cobras in the southern african region, also some of the fastest. Their large size means that they have a long strike range and a high venom yield. The forest cobra that I work with is the only venemous snake that I am properly scared of. I respect our black mabas greatly for their ability to kill but that forest takes the cake. Almost three metres of muscle, aggression and venom.

In my opinion keeping venemous is like starting back at square one. When you get your first snake its usually something non venemous and easy to manage. You dont go out and buy emerald tree boas and retics for your first snakes. Now with the venemous its a similar situation. Start at square one and work your experience up to what you want to get.

You see Rolands Ppic, with his texas rat. That is the ideal situation. Something big, non venemous and aggressive that you can sharpen your skills with.

Just my 2c

Good luck

[lampie]

Lachesis.. Im sorry but your friends Naja annulifera are an exeption. Snouties are not by any means a good starter cobra as they get big and can be a handfull. If i had the choice of handling a cobra that hoods or a cobra that doesnt hood, I would choose the one that hoods every single time. Easier to predict what they are going to do, also their maneuverability is lower when thay are hooded.

Forest cobra...are. you. mad! Forest cobras are some of the largest cobras in the southern african region, also some of the fastest. Their large size means that they have a long strike range and a high venom yield. The forest cobra that I work with is the only venemous snake that I am properly scared of. I respect our black mabas greatly for their ability to kill but that forest takes the cake. Almost three metres of muscle, aggression and venom.

In my opinion keeping venemous is like starting back at square one. When you get your first snake its usually something non venemous and easy to manage. You dont go out and buy emerald tree boas and retics for your first snakes. Now with the venemous its a similar situation. Start at square one and work your experience up to what you want to get.

You see Rolands Ppic, with his texas rat. That is the ideal situation. Something big, non venemous and aggressive that you can sharpen your skills with.

Just my 2c

Good luck

Or you can go for a big mole snake.

[Jamster]

Yup, either molesnake or a big rat snake(usually asian ratsnakes are more aggressive). Both can be brilliant practice. They get big, they are aggressive and they are non venemous.